Emerson moves forward on first phase of mixed-use project at Cranes Roost

Emerson International has submitted plans to Altamonte Springs for the first phase of a long-envisioned mixed-use project near Cranes Roost park.

The company is seeking approval of a seven-story apartment building with 401 units on land along the east side of I-4.

The multifamily community would rise right next to the 300-unit Sanctuary at Centerpointe, which Emerson completed in 2020.

And it would go on a 22-acre tract of land where an office complex built by Emerson in the early 1970′s once sat.

Since 2018, the Altamonte Springs-based developer has been working toward the goal of razing the single-story office buildings on the property and replacing them with a mix of apartments, restaurants, shops, and newer office space.

In total, the LakeShore at Centerpoint project calls for 1,319 apartment units, 18,300 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and 36,000 square feet of office space built out in three phases across four lots.

The first phase consists of the 401-unit wrap-style apartment complex on lot one, which spans 4.37 acres on the west side of the property.

The second phase, on Lot 2, is the commercial component that features 36,600 square feet of office space, 8,300 square feet of retail space, and a 10,000-square-foot restaurant. The final phases consist of plans to add 459 apartments on Lot 3 and 460 apartments on Lot 4.

Emerson International declined to comment on the project.

Site plans for the first phase, drafted by engineering firm Dewberry, show a seven-story apartment tower with a five-story parking structure attached. Amenities include a fitness center, a game table area, a party room, a sports lounge, and a cyber cafe. There’s also a courtyard in the middle of the apartment building with a swimming pool, fire pit, and outdoor cooking and dining area.

The apartment community would be called Sanctuary 2, according to renderings by Apopka-based design/build firm Finfrock.

Finfrock’s portfolio includes the design of six multifamily communities in Central Florida, with three in downtown Orlando: the MAA Robinson, 101 Eola on Lake Eola and the Lakehouse Apartments on Lake Ivanhoe.

For the Sanctuary 2 project, Emerson is requesting a waiver to allow for 10-foot setbacks, instead of the 25-foot setbacks required by the city. The change will create a more urban feel, site plans say.

The entire mixed-use concept emphasizes pedestrians and special events and offers connectivity between the site and Cranes Roost.

“Wide pedestrian corridors and a commitment to multimodal transportation elements ensure an urban design that integrates intensive land uses and pedestrian-oriented design,” the plan reads. “A specially designed urban event street section is proposed, which will serve as a pedestrian gathering space for festivals, markets, food truck Fridays, and other planned special events.”

It continues, “The urban event street section is centrally located in the project and connects to a proposed open space corridor to Cranes Roost park, located between the lakefront lots, providing a visual and pedestrian connection to the city’s park.”

Emerson’s Sanctuary at Centerpointe offers rent ranging from $1,485 for a one-bedroom unit to $3,165 for a three-bedroom unit, according to its website.

Emerson, which has its headquarters on Cranes Roost Boulevard, has also developed the twin 12-story Emerson Plaza condominium towers next door, as well as several office buildings to the north of the mixed-use site.

Emerson owns and manages more than a million square feet of commercial space throughout Central Florida, making it one of the region’s largest commercial property owners, according to its website.

“Emerson is one of the world’s premier developers,” city manager Frank Martz said in an email to GrowthsSpotter. “And they are city’s ‘ground-zero’ partner in Uptown Altamonte. It is a partnership spanning back nearly 40 years. This new offering from Emerson is a continuation of the excellent economic development Altamonte Springs and Emerson are both known for.”

Nearby the proposed mixed-use community, there’s another urban-style development further along in the approval process.

Family-owned construction and real estate development firm Gilbane Inc. is planning to build a towering apartment complex across from Cranes Roost Park. Plans call for a 346-unit multifamily development that will connect to a new six-level parking garage via a pedestrian bridge suspended above Uptown Boulevard.

These apartments will be situated in one multilevel building towering as high as 80 feet. The low-rise eastern portion of the structure will be kept to five floors with a rooftop deck featuring a resort-style swimming pool and firepit area, conceptual plans show.

An 18th-floor sky terrace is proposed on the taller portion of the building and features a fitness center, yoga room, media room, and clubroom/lounge area. The ground floor of the apartment building consists of leasing offices, a package room, a game room, conference rooms, and a 1,170-square-foot coworking cafe.

Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at (407)-800-1161 or dwyatt@GrowthSpotter.com, or tweet me at @DustinWyattGS. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.